Lawyer: Woman was arrested for sitting

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ATLANTA, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- A physically disabled Atlanta woman, who said she was thrown to the ground and arrested for refusing to get out of her chair, is seeking compensation.

Dan Grossman, an attorney for Shequita Walker, 40, said she was sitting April 21 on a metal chair in the vacant lot next to her home, where she often sits on hot afternoons, when police officer Kenneth Thomas approached and asked her to move, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Friday.

Grossman said Walker, who suffers from severe joint pain and has a limited range of motion, told the officer she was within her rights to sit outside and Thomas then twisted her arm, causing her to fall to the concrete.

Walker was treated for a shoulder injury sustained when she hit the ground before spending the night in jail on a disorderly conduct charge, which was later dropped.

The Atlanta Citizen Review Board examined a complaint from Walker and determined the officer should be disciplined.

Grossman said he is hoping to obtain compensation for Walker without having to file a lawsuit against the city.

"It's not like they did this to a healthy woman," Grossman said. "She has very limited range of motion. She suffered and she deserves some compensation."